A traveler carrying a firearm boarded a flight from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and flew to Tokyo Narita International Airport on January 3, according to a statement from the Transportation Security Administration. "TSA has determined standard procedures were not followed and a passenger did in fact pass through a standard screening TSA checkpoint with a firearm at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on the morning of January 3," the release states. Delta Airlines also issued a statement to CNN, saying that "upon the customer's disclosure, the airline reported the incident to the TSA."

The security breach came two weeks into the government shutdown, during which TSA agents have been required to work but have not received paychecks. CNN first reported on January 4 -- a day after the breach -- that hundreds of TSA agents from at least four major airports had called in sick. However, the TSA dismissed suggestions the government shutdown contributed to the security lapse and said a normal amount of staffers were working that day. "The perception that this might have occurred as a result of the partial government shutdown would be false," TSA said. "The national unscheduled absence rate of TSA staff on Thursday, January 3, 2019, was 4.8% compared to 6.3% last year, Thursday, January 4, 2018. So in fact, the national call out rate was higher a year ago than this year on that date." The TSA noted that it will "hold those responsible appropriately accountable."

TSA screeners have struggled to detect weapons even in the absence of a shutdown. In 2015, the acting administrator for the TSA was reassigned after a report found that airport screeners failed to detect explosives and weapons in nearly every test that an undercover team conducted at dozens of airports. About 51,000 TSA agents are among the 800,000 government employees working without pay or on furlough during the shutdown. The Air Traffic Controllers Union, Aviation Safety Inspectors Union and various other groups and air travel experts have issued statements condemning the various consequences of the shutdown, but the TSA and aviation experts have said flying is still safe.

"Security standards will NOT and have NOT been compromised," said Michael Bilello, TSA assistant administrator for public affairs, on Twitter. In an attempt to ease the financial pain caused by the government shutdown, the TSA announced Sunday that it would provide a day's pay for those who were on duty the day after the lapse in funding, and also award $500 bonuses for work during the holiday travel season. "While I realize this is not what you are owed for your hard work ... and what you deserve, I hope these actions alleviate some of the financial hardship many of you are facing," TSA Administrator David Pekoske wrote.

The gentleman in question probably just answered truthfully when presented with the Japanese immigration forms which asked if you were bringing any raw fruit/vegetable, uncooked meat or firearms...

Another article simply stated he was met by Japanese law enforcement officials upon disembarking. I don't think he necessarily got in trouble. I can imagine Japanese officials bowed to the honorable American and apologized that in Japan people are not allowed to carry firearms, so sorry for the inconvenience, and asked for the address the firearm could be mailed back to in the United States, free of charge to the Traveler of course.

"It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent." -Gandhi

TSA screeners stop passengers — many of them forgetful or unwittingly — carrying loaded guns onto planes in their carry-on luggage fairly regularly throughout the year; a reported 4,000 firearms were seized at checkpoints in 2017. Instances in which armed passengers make it through security, however, are rare.

This is the biggest reason I have a "no firearms or ammo in my backpack" rule. I live in some worry that I would accidentally leave a firearm in my pack when I head to the airport.

Also, If I go shooting the day before I board a plane, I use extra scrubbing to remove any residue from gunfire (those pads they wipe you with will trigger explosives when testing in their machine).

I have - one time - flown on a plane only to discover at the other end that a speed strip of .357 was still in my bag. It did not trigger any alerts. I left the ammo with a gun shop - it would have cost more than it was worth to ship it home.

So, "Yes" I can imagine accidentally having a firearm in my bag. I have a terror about it.

This is the biggest reason I have a "no firearms or ammo in my backpack" rule. I live in some worry that I would accidentally leave a firearm in my pack when I head to the airport.

Also, If I go shooting the day before I board a plane, I use extra scrubbing to remove any residue from gunfire (those pads they wipe you with will trigger explosives when testing in their machine).

I have - one time - flown on a plane only to discover at the other end that a speed strip of .357 was still in my bag. It did not trigger any alerts. I left the ammo with a gun shop - it would have cost more than it was worth to ship it home.

So, "Yes" I can imagine accidentally having a firearm in my bag. I have a terror about it.

I can understand this. When I went to Canada in November I had a checklist of things to do before leaving that included in all caps "NO GUN IN PURSE!" to remind myself to leave my carry piece at home, and when I picked up my traveling companion I made sure that he didn't have a gun either.

While I understand why guns on planes is a bad idea, I find it amusing this is even newsworthy. Nothing happened. I'm sure it's not the first or last time someone was on a plane with a gun and nothing happened. Looks like TSA needs to up their game but not sure why we all needed to know about nothing happening.

I'm guessing it is a news slam on the turnip for the shutdown. "Oh, we're all scared and in danger because the screeners are taking sick leave because they are not getting paid" kind of thing. I'd be more worried about possible understaffing for air traffic controllers myself.

I'm guessing it is a news slam on the turnip for the shutdown. "Oh, we're all scared and in danger because the screeners are taking sick leave because they are not getting paid" kind of thing. I'd be more worried about possible understaffing for air traffic controllers myself.

The Air Traffic Controllers have been understaffed since St. Ronnie broke the union. It just gets worse with the shutdowns.

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.-Huxley
The illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer-Kissinger
Reasoning will never make a Man correct an ill Opinion, which by Reasoning he never acquired.-Swift